As most of us know, vehicle repairs can add up to a big bill very quickly. It's easy to run up a large invoice on a car just in labor alone at a dealership or mechanic's shop, not even counting big-ticket parts for luxury vehicles or hard-to-find things for older vehicles or imports.
We've been having some trouble with our Expedition the past few months and have basically gotten the run-around at the local dealership. My husband took it in for two problems, both of which "could not be duplicated" by the mechanics. The first time they supposedly adjusted the computer somehow, thinking that the adjustment would update the shifting and fix the problem - to the tune of $75 because it's not covered by our extended warranty contract. The problem actually got WORSE, and when we took it back the guy who test drove it tried to say he couldn't find a problem, so my husband had to leave work and drive it with him. Get this: they charged him $50 for a TEST DRIVE - without even attempting to trouble shoot the issues.
Chuh. Great customer service eh?
So here's the frugal part: my husband *may* have fixed the problem himself, for free, last night. Here's how - and the tips for you:
- Read the owner's manual that came with your vehicle. My husband was reading the manual for his Ford Ranger yesterday and came across a notation that said that if one is towing or doing a lot of city driving (i.e. frequent stop-and-go's), one should turn OFF the overdrive function. When does our Expedition have its shifting problem? On a certain road we drive frequently where there are about a half dozen stop signs on a 1 mile stretch of road. He hit the road last night and turned off the overdrive and VOILA - neither of us heard or felt the noise! (Did the idiots at the dealership even suggest or mention that? NO.) So we won't know for sure until we drive more, but he may well have fixed the problem - for free!
Some other basic tips for saving on repairs:
- Keep up on routine maintenance. Doing your vehicle's required maintenance will keep it running better for longer, and it will also keep you from voiding your warranty or extended warranty contracts. Depending on your make and model, the former may be based sheerly on mileage and age; but the latter are often dependent upon you keeping the vehicle in good condition and having documented maintenance done in order to get repairs covered.
- Drive smart. Take a defensive driving course and you're more likely to avoid an accident - and you might get an insurance discount too. Don't hotrod or "4x" and you'll reduce wear and tear on your entire vehicle.
- When you're replacing a vehicle, consider a more common auto that is easy to find parts and a certified mechanic for repairs. The more luxurious or "exotic" your car is, the more likely you're going to run into a bill for an arm and a leg or your firstborn child (okay, maybe your second born) when something breaks down or is smashed into in a hit-and-run. All jokes aside, expensive fancy vehicles don't just have an initial big invoice to pay - they cost more in insurance, repairs, and in some cases, even gas (if you have to use premium fuel, for instance). And your insurance will cost more too, thanks to the potential high repair costs to the company in the case of accidents.
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